Neurons

Last October, Japanese neuroscientists implanted induced pluripotent stem cells into a Parkinson’s patient.  As described: “Kyoto University stem cell researcher Jun Takahashi and colleagues began with a stock of iPSCs, which they had previously reprogrammed from an anonymous donor’s skin cells. They then differentiated the iPSCs into dopaminergic-neuron precursors. In a three-hour surgery, neurosurgeon Takayuki Kikuchi implanted 2.4 million of the precursor cells into 12 sites in the brain.”  The patient showed no ill effects, but the extent of benefit is unclear.  Three months from now, the same patient will have a second round of this procedure.  MORE

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